St. Olaf College is a liberal arts college that was founded in 1875 in the Lutheran tradition (ELCA). St. Olaf is best-known for its mathematics and music departments. The college puts a focus on keeping up the Lutheran tradition and Christian faith through service and worship. Located in Northfield, St. Olaf is 45 minutes from the Twin Cities. The campus has 300 acres with 16 academic and administrative buildings, 10 athletic facilities and 29 residence halls. The student-faculty ratio is 12.3:1, and the total enrollment is about 3,150 students, as of fall 2010.
Martin Luther College was formed from the union of Dr. Martin Luther College and Northwestern College in 1995. Located in New Ulm, Martin Luther College has more than 80 faculty members with "real parish and school experience," according to the college's website. The college has an 11:1 student-professor ratio, and the college offers bachelor's degrees in educational ministry and pre-seminary studies. It also offers a master of science degree in education. Of the 700 students on campus, 95 percent receive financial aid.
Concordia University in St. Paul is one of 10 colleges operated under the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. It has a 16:1 student-faculty ratio, and every student on campus has access to a laptop. As of May 2010, 46.2 percent of students graduate with honors. Concordia offers 49 liberal arts majors, and grants an average $25,548 financial aid packet to students, as of the 2009-10 academic year. The university also fields 15 NCAA Division II sports teams.
Bethany Lutheran College offers 19 majors, such as biology, theater, sociology, religion, history, exercise science and communications. The Evangelical Lutheran Synod-operated and -owned private school was founded in 1927. The campus is 50 acres and overlooks the Minnesota River Valley in Mankato. About 600 students attend. As of the 2010-11 academic year, tuition, fees, room and board for Bethany Lutheran College total $27,580.